Method and System for Triggering Augmented Data Collection on a Network Based on Traffic Patterns

1. A method of adjusting network data management in a network appliance coupled to devices in a network, the network appliance passing data traffic on the network, the method comprising: collecting network traffic data based on the data traffic passing through the network appliance at a normal level; determining whether the network traffic data indicates an abnormal condition; increasing the collection of network traffic data through the network appliance when an abnormal condition is detected; storing the network traffic data from the increased collection in a memory device; sending the network traffic data from the increased collection to a central management device; analyzing the network traffic data via the central management device to determine the abnormal condition.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the increased collection of network traffic data to determine the cessation of the abnormal condition.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising returning the collection of network traffic data to the normal level when the abnormal condition has ceased.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising returning the collection of network traffic data to the normal level after a predetermined time.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network traffic data from the increased collection is removed from the memory device after the abnormal condition ceases.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the increased data collection includes network traffic data collected under the Netflow protocol.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the increased data collection includes at least one of network traffic data from a router, a network device or SNMP data.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the central management device controls a second network traffic appliance monitoring traffic on a second network, the increased data collection coming exclusively from the first network traffic appliance.

9. A traffic management system for regulating network traffic between computing devices in a network, the system comprising: a network traffic appliance including a network interface, a collection module coupled to the network interface, the collection module collecting network traffic data based on the data traffic passing through the network traffic appliance at a normal level; and a storage device storing network traffic data; and a central management device including a data analysis module coupled to the collection module, the data analysis module monitoring the network traffic data from the collection module and determining whether the network traffic data indicates an abnormal condition; wherein the collection module increases collections of network traffic data when an abnormal condition is detected by the data analysis module.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising another network traffic appliance for managing network traffic data on another network.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the collection module monitors the increased collection of network traffic data to determine the cessation of the abnormal condition.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein collection of network traffic data is returned to the normal level when the abnormal condition has ceased.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the collection module returns the collection of network traffic data to the normal level after a predetermined time.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the network traffic data from the increased collection is removed from the memory device after the abnormal condition ceases.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the increased data collection includes network traffic data collected under the Netflow protocol.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the increased data collection includes at least one of network traffic data from a router, a network device or SNMP data.